I have a friend charges with robbery that he is claiming he is innocent of. An on-site security camera could substantiate his claim, but the police statement said there was no cameras, when in fact, there are. They either did not ask if there were or simply did not retrieve it. What does this mean for my friend? Also, he is claiming that what the police report reflects as his statement that night is vastly different than the one handwritten by him that night. The original, handwritten statement is nowhere to be found. What can he do about this?
2007-09-22 00:58:44 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Police are obligated to collect as much evidence as possible. There is nothing worst than spending hours and days creating a case to have it collapse due to a detail overlooked. A sloppy investigation can also haunt an officer for the rest of their career. However, your friend's defense is ultimately your friend's responsibility. If the police missed something, then it's the defense attorney's job to point it out. Police suppression of evidence is rare, I don't think you are getting the full story from your friend.
2007-09-22 02:49:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Police have an obligation to collect all evidence. What he needs is a good lawyer to get the camera tapes and that will go a long way in refuting this claim. Also, if the police typed a "copy" of his handwritten statement and it cannot be found, that's something else his lawyer can work with. Sounds like very shoddy police work. Since the police aren't, or don't seem interested in getting the correct evidence, he really needs a good lawyer (maybe all his friends could help raise money and sue for court costs) and even a private investigator.
2007-09-22 01:08:00 · answer #2 · answered by NewGrandma 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your friend feels that there is further evidence in his situation, then his attorney should be the one to request it of the police. Your friend might have to furnish locations of the cameras, but it should be done immediately, as most of these cameras, have a loop system, that every so often erases and records over the tape. It would seem that your friend has enough questions to raise a reasonable doubt, as to his guilt.
2007-09-22 01:28:16 · answer #3 · answered by Beau R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Police have a legal obligation to collect evidence. If they don't, they have failed to conduct a proper investigation, which is also improper conduct by an officer. Sadly and realistically, they don't always do it right, and the public has little recourse.
2007-09-22 02:41:47 · answer #4 · answered by .. .this can't be good 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
His defense attorney will have an investigator get the tapes if they are available. I'd beware of believing your friend without checking out his story first.
2007-09-22 02:52:09 · answer #5 · answered by rico3151 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Help your friend find a good lawyer. The lawyer can subpoena video tapes if they exist.
2007-09-22 01:10:49 · answer #6 · answered by regerugged 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bVa6jn4rpE
2007-09-22 02:19:59 · answer #7 · answered by brian e 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋